SAN FRANCISCO – Apple Computer has stunned the Mac world – again! – by
launching free software that will enable owners of the latest Intel-powered
Macintosh models to run Windows natively on their Macs. Apple executives had
earlier denied they would do this.

The news saw Apple shares jump more than 6 percent to $65 in early Nasdaq
trading. A Reuters report predicted the move could see Apple sell millions
more Macs, now able to boot up in either Windows XP or Mac OS X at the click
of a single key.

The “public beta” software, dubbed Boot Camp, can be downloaded from Apple’s
Web site. It simplifies Windows installation by providing a step-by-step
application to create a second partition on the hard drive.

Users must provide their own copy of the Microsoft OS – “Apple has no desire
or plan to sell or support Windows, but many customers have expressed their
interest to run Windows on Apple’s superior hardware now that we use Intel
processors,” said Philip Schiller, senior VP of worldwide product marketing.

Apple said it will include the final version of Boot Camp in the next major
release of Mac OS X, dubbed “Leopard”.

The company also warns users that “Windows running on a Mac is like Windows
running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague
the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft
Windows security fixes.”